Knife with retractable point protector

Abstract

The retractable point protector of the present invention is used in combination with a knife blade. The knife blade is either made of a single piece of stainless steel with its handle or is of a folding knife type which folds into its handle. The retractable point protector is journalled in the handle to pivot from a rest position to an extended position about an axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the knife and its handle.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cutting device comprising: a knife having a blade and a handle, said blade including a cutting edge and a point,   point protector means pivotally mounted on said handle for preventing contact with said point when said cutting edge is moved away from an operator in a cutting operation,   stop means defined by said handle for locating said point protector means to prevent contact with said point,   said point protector means and said knife including securing means for securing said point protector means in position with respect to said blade,   said securing means including a first hole defined by said point protector means, a second hole defined by said knife and cord means passing through said first hole and said second hole for preventing said point protector means from moving relative to said blade.   
     
     
       2. A cutting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said point protector means includes a thumb rest for preventing sliding of a thumb of the operator onto said cutting edge. 
     
     
       3. A cutting devise in accordance with claim 1, wherein said point protector means includes a thumb rest for preventing sliding of a thumb of the operator onto said cutting edge. 
     
     
       4. A cutting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said handle includes a recess for storage of said point protector means. 
     
     
       5. A cutting device comprising: a knife having a blade and a handle, said blade including a cutting edge and a point,   point protector means pivotally mounted on said handle for preventing contact with said point when said cutting edge is moved away from an operator in a cutting operation,   stop means defined by said handle for locating said point protector means to prevent contact with said point,   said point protector including a projection for aiding in holding said point protector means in an extended position and for preventing sliding of the hand of the operator onto said cutting edge when said point protector means is in a retracted position, and   said point protector means includes a thumb rest for preventing sliding of a thumb of the operator onto said cutting edge.   
     
     
       6. A cutting device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said point protector means and said knife include securing means for securing said point protector means in position with respect to said blade. 
     
     
       7. A cutting devise in accordance with claim 5, wherein said handle includes a recess for storage of said point protector means. 
     
     
       8. A folding knife comprising: a handle,   a blade pivotably mounted on said handle to move between an extended position and a retracted position, and   a point protector pivotably mounted on said handle to move between an extended position and a retracted position, said point protector extending along and adjacent to said blade and around a point of said blade to prevent said point from cutting when both said blade and said point protector are in their respective extended positions and when both said blade and said point protector are in their respective retracted positions.   
     
     
       9. A folding knife as claimed in claim 8, wherein said blade and said point protector are pivotably mounted on the same axis. 
     
     
       10. A folding knife as claimed in claim 9, wherein said point protector includes a thumb rest for preventing sliding of a thumb onto said blade. 
     
     
       11. A folding knife as claimed in claim 8, wherein said point protector is located on opposite sides of said blade. 
     
     
       12. A folding knife comprising: a handle,   a blade having two ends, one end having a point and the other end mounted on said handle so that said blade moves between a first position lying at least partially within said handle and a second position where said one end extends in a direction opposite to a direction in which said one end extends in said first position, and   a point protector pivotably mounted on said handle to move between a first position lying between a portion of said handle and said blade when said blade is in its first position and a second position for said point protector where said point protector extends along and adjacent to said blade and around said point to prevent said point from cutting when said blade is in its second position.